Of the planet VENUS, and her several Significations

Adapted from William Lilly's 17th century text Christian Astrology, pp.65-68

Adapted and annotated by Deborah HouldingReferences in the footnotes include explanatory remarksand modern translations of Lilly's terms

Names:

Cytherea, [1]
Aphrodite, [2]
Phosphoros,[3]
Vesperugo,[4]
Ericina.[5]
She is well known amongst the vulgar by the name of the Evening Star or Hesperus;
[6] and that
is when she appears after the Sun is set: common people call her the Morning Star,
and the learned Lucifer, [7]
when she is seen long before the
rising of the Sun.

Diseases signified by Venus are principally in the matrix
[14]
and members of generation; in the reins,
[15]
belly, back, navel and those parts; the gonorrhoea or running of the reins,
French or Spanish pox; any disease arising by inordinate lust.
Priapismes, [16]
impotency in generation, hernias, etc, the diabetes or pissing disease.

Colours and savours:

In colours she signifies white, or milky sky-colour mixed with brown, or a little green.
In savours she delights in that which is pleasant and toothsome; usually in moist and sweet, or
what is very delectable; in smells what is unctuous [17]
and aromatical, and incites to wantonness.

Venus represents a man of fair, but not tall stature, his complexion being white, tending to a little darkness, which makes him more lovely;
very fair lovely eyes, and a little black; a round face and not large, fair hair, smooth, and
plenty of it, and it usually of a light brown colour; a lovely mouth and cherry lips,
the face pretty fleshy, a rolling wandering eye, a body very delightful, lovely and
exceedingly well shaped, one desirous of trimming and making himself neat and
complete both in clothes and body, a love dimple in his cheeks, a steadfast eye,
and full of amorous enticements.
When Venus is oriental, [47]
the body inclines to tallness; or a kind of upright straightness in person,
not corpulent or very tall, but neatly composed. A right venerian person,
is such as we say, a pretty, complete, handsome man or woman.
When Venus is occidental [48]
the man is of a shorter stature, yet very decent and comely in shape and form,
well liked of all.

Manners when well dignified:

Venus signifies a quiet man, not given to law,
[49] quarrel or wrangling,
not vitious, [50]
pleasant, neat and spruce, loving mirth in his words and actions, clean in apparel,
rather drinking much than gluttonous, prone to venery, [51]
often entangled in love-matters, zealous in their affections,
musical, delighting in baths and all honest merry meetings,
or masks and stage-plays; easy of belief, and not given to labour or
taking any pains, a company-keeper, cheerful, nothing mistrustful, a right
virtuous man or woman, often had in some jealousy, yet no cause for it.

Manners when badly placed:

When Venus is ill-placed, then the man is riotous, expensive, wholly given to looseness
and lewd companies of women, not regarding his reputation, coveting unlawful beds,
incestuous, an adulterer; fanatical, a mere skip-jack, of no faith, no repute,
no credit; spending his means in alehouses, taverns, and amongst scandalous, loose people;
a mean lazy companion, not careful of the things of this life or anything religious;
a mere atheist and natural man.

Notes & References:

1]

Venus Cythereia: 'Of Cythera', a name applied to Aphrodite, referring to either a city in Crete or to an island off the Peloponese, both cults centres of the goddess.
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